NVIDIA 3D-Vision Effects

Readers familiar with Benchmark Reviews have undoubtedly heard of NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision technology; if not from our review of the product, then for the Editor's Choice Award it's earned or the many times I've personally mentioned it in out articles. Put simply: it changes the game. 2010 has been a break-out year for 3D technology, and PC video games are leading the way. Mafia II is expands on the three-dimensional effects, and improves the 3D-Vision experience with out-of-screen effects. For readers unfamiliar with the technology, 3D-Vision is a feature only available to NVIDIA GeForce video cards.

Mafia 2 is absolutely phenomenal with 3D-Vision... and with its built-in multi-monitor profiles and bezel correction already factored this game is well suited for 3D-Vision Surround. Combining two GeForce GTS 450's into SLI allowed this game to play at 5760 x 1080 resolution across three monitors using upper-level settings to deliver a thoroughly impressive experience. If you already own a 3D Vision kit and 120Hz monitor, Mafia II was built with 3D Vision in mind.

The first thing gamers should be aware of is the performance penalty for using 3D-Vision with a high-demand game like Mafia II. Using a GeForce GTX 480 video card for reference, currently the most powerful single-GPU graphics solution available, we experienced frame rate speeds up to 33 FPS with all settings configured to their highest and APEX PhysX set to high. However, when 3D Vision is enabled the video frame rate usually decrease by about 50%. This is no longer the hardfast rule, thanks to '3D Vision Ready' game titles that offer performance optimizations. Mafia II proved that the 3D Vision performance penalty can be as little as 30% with a single GeForce GTX 480 video card, or a mere 11% in SLI configuration. NVIDIA Forceware drivers will guide players to make custom-recommended adjustments specifically for each game they play, but PhysX and anti-aliasing will still reduce frame rate performance.

Of course, the out-of-screen effects are worth every dollar you spend on graphics hardware. In the image above, an explosion sends the car's wheel and door flying into the players face, followed by metal debris and sparks. When you're playing, this certainly helps to catch your attention... and when the objects become bullets passing by you, the added depth of field helps assist in player awareness.

Combined with APEX PhysX technology, NVIDIA's 3D-Vision brings destructible walls to life. As enemies shoot at the brick column, dirt and dust fly past the player forcing stones to tumble out towards you. Again, the added depth of field can help players pinpoint the origin of enemy threat, and improve response time without sustaining 'confusion damage'.

NVIDIA APEX Turbulence, a new PhysX feature, already adds an impressive level of realism to games (such as with Mafia II pictured in this section). Watching plumes of smoke and flames spill out towards your camera angle helps put you right into the thick of action.

NVIDIA 3D-Vision/3D-Vision Surround is the perfect addition to APEX PhysX technology, and capable video games will prove that these features reproduce lifelike scenery and destruction when they're used together. Glowing embers and fiery shards shooting past you seem very real when 3D-Vision pairs itself APEX PhysX technology, and there's finally a good reason to overpower the PCs graphics system.

I agree that NVIDIA seems to be thrashing ATI right now. In terms of performance AND capability too. I can't see the 6000 series denting this kind of output with speed performance alone, they'll have to somehow add the extra capabilities that the 400 series cards have them trumped on.It's a good time to be a consumer.

Quite an interesting article. Glad to get some good numbers and comparisons with SLI.

Also, on NewEgg at least, the price of the GTX 460 is down to $170, increasing its Price/Performance margin even more. Interestingly, there's also GTX 460 1GB (as opposed to 768mB), quite curious how its price to performance stacks up.

Radeon HD 5830 is currently down to $160 w/Rebate, putting in the same price point range and price to performance range [when the GTX 460 was at $180] as the GTX 460. Though Id go with the 460 simply for PhysX & CUDA.

And those were the only two that had lower prices (or at least, lower by enough to make an decent impact).

Wow. I don't see the raging (unbiased of course!) red roosters.Well, that always tells me what cards are so good that even they can't make up a dozen unbelievable lies about them. Thanks for the review, and the indicative post space.

I have 1 gts 450, and 2 screens (20", 1608X1050). If i add another GTS 450 and a 3rd 1680X1050 screen, will i still be able to play crysis on medium, or higher with over say, 32 FPS? BTW i will NOT be running 3D of any sort whatsoever, so i will only be rendered from 1 angle at a time, not 2. It looks like they can run triple 1080P displays in 3D and still play Mafia II, so i am guessing that I will be able to run 1608X1050 X3 and play Crysis.

Adding a second GTS 450 would be a very good idea, and would certainly improve performance if you extend to a third monitor. If you can play with those settings now on two monitors with one GTS 450, adding a second video card to a three-monitor system will actually yield better performance than you have now.

I guess I failed to mention, I can play at those settings on 1 monitor, as with 2 my crosshairs would be in the bezel. Would I still see a performance increase adding another card and a 3rd monitor, then gaming on all 3? Or would I have to do some insane overclocking and go down to low settings? Thanks for the help man.

I'll try playing on 2 just to see how it goes but my pc's off right now but I'll try tomorrow and reply again. My worry is that it's barely playable now, and will become unplayable on 2 cards, 3 screens.

Well, i know its a long time after, but ive actually given up on 3 screens and bought a single 560ti. I actually now only run one 1680X1050 screen. I never would have had room for 2 screens, and speakers. So i sold one screen, bought a 560ti and some SP2500 Speakers, and am very happy with this decision. The 560ti SHREDS everything i throw at it, Crysis 2 Extreme DX11 High Res textures, Multiplayer, 50+ FPS constant. Recording 35 Constant. Plus the 2500s have great audio positioning so they have helped me a lot. since i got them my K/D went up .6.

I heard it was, but you probably have more testing than I do. Just wondering, would 2 GTX 460SE cards be able to handle 3 monitors and play crysis? On medium with No AA, but AA if possible. I mean like a pretty steady 35 FPS or something would be perfectly fine for me. I would also like to thank you for all your help throughout this discussion, as i am kind of new to graphics cards in SLI and multiple monitors.